The Powerful 3-Letter Word That'll Boost Your Career if You're Brave Enough to Use It

For the most part, I’m a card-carrying introvert. Big conferences and events exhaust me; I’d rather have a glass of wine with my husband or a few close friends than meet new people in a crowded bar. I’m truly of the mindset that
staying in is the new going out
.

And for the most part, that works. I have close friends I see often and a strong network I maintain via
introvert-friendly activities
: one-on-one drinks meetings, intimate dinners with close contacts, swapping advice and connections over email.

So, during these transitions, I up my networking game. I reach out to my current connections asking for introductions in my new industry or city. I send cold emails to people who I’d like to meet. I browse meetups and conferences and events.

But the single most effective thing I do to build my network is this: I say “yes” to everything.

OK, not to anything illegal, or to anything I’d regret seeing posted on social media. But for a certain period of time (typically one to two months), I make a point to say “yes” to every invitation, every event, and every networking request that comes my way.

If I hear about a conference that seems only mildly related to what I do, yes. If someone asks me to lunch, yes. If I’m invited to an alumni event 10 miles a way—I’d never normally commute that far on a weeknight, but yes! From early morning
coffee meetings
to outdoor Frisbee games, I’m truly game for anything and everything.

To tell you the truth, many of these activities lead to nothing. But many of them lead to meeting people who become friends or important professional connections. Many of them lead to other invitations (which, of course, I accept)—that then lead to friends or important professional connections.

And it keeps going.

In fact, I can’t count the number of amazing relationships I’ve built and the number of opportunities that’ve come my way because I said yes to something I normally would’ve skipped—going to events far out of town, eating pizza on a Saturday night with a group of women I had never met before, watching or even
playing
sports.

Yes, it’s uncomfortable. Yes, it takes time. And yes, every time I do it, I really have to pump myself up.

But I remind myself that it’s just for a month or two, and then I can return to my old ways—but with a much stronger community in place.

So, give it a try. Whether you’re making a major career or life change, you’re looking to bolster your network, or you’re just trying to make some new friends, have a “yes” period. I have a feeling you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

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Adrian was The Muse’s very first employee (ask her about the early days!) who built the Muse editorial team from the ground up. Now, she serves as Editor-at-Large, launching new content products and sharing expert career advice with Muse audiences online and off. When she’s not Musing, you’ll find her planning her next dinner party or international vacation. Say hi on Twitter and Instagram.